The ripple effect of a Chris Paul trade between the Thunder and Knicks

With rumors swirling that New York could have interest in point guard Chris Paul, a look at the ripple effects such a deal would have across the NBA.

Few veterans, if not players period, have had a better season than Chris Paul. And it wasn’t supposed to be that way. When the 10-time All-Star was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder, most were writing off Paul’s career.

Instead, he’s seen an absolute revival. Averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds this season, Paul has transformed a team that was supposed to be selecting from the lottery in this upcoming draft into a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened in the playoffs.

Oklahoma City is a team that no team will want action with in the postseason. They’re young and old, can play fast and slow, and have playmakers at almost every position. Between Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams; this Thunder team is scary good.

But despite the growth of their young guard or quality play within the frontcourt, it’s hard to credit anyone more than the 34-year-old point guard. So naturally, teams are starting to take interest in a potential trade ahead of the upcoming offseason.

The latest being the New York Knicks, who as Frank Isola reports, have been gathering intel on the point guard in preparation for a stab at Paul in the summer. The longtime laughing stock of the NBA, New York is trying to finally take a turn in the right direction.

Whether Paul is the exit they need to get off on this highway or not, you can’t help but admire that they’re doing due diligence on the perennial All-Star. And yet, one can’t help but ignore the kind of ripple effect this would send throughout the league.

That being said, a look ahead to a reality where Chris Paul ends up on the New York Knicks.